An Alternative To The GED For High School Dropouts

The Adult Diploma Program was begun in Schuylkill County in 1997 to give high school dropouts an option to the GED. Although the GED serves many people very well, a high school diploma offers even more benefits.

Certain colleges and training programs either do not accept the GED or place limits on the number of GED recipients who can enroll. The Adult Diploma has no such limitations. Students can complete the minimum required work or go to study-advanced curriculum that will enable them to enter various post-secondary programs. This program is ideal for the adult learner with significant life learning experiences and who have ambitions of going on to post-secondary education. The Adult Diploma Program is constantly evolving in order to meet state and local standards and offer participants formal soft-skills development and the requirement of creating a graduation project, which demonstrates students abilities to apply academic talents to the real world.

To Be Eligible For The Adult Diploma Program:

The Adult Diploma Program offers a traditional high school diploma to adults who are at least 21 years of age, who successfully complete all class requirements: regular class attendance and the preparation of a graduation portfolio, and who live in a participating school district.

1. You must be at least 21 years of age
2. Pass an entrance exam OR have a GED
3. Reside in one of the participating school districts

• Mahanoy Area
• North Schuylkill
• Pine Grove Area
• Pottsville Area
• Schuylkill Haven
• Shenandoah Valley
• Tri-Valley
• Williams Valley

Areas of Study

The Adult Diploma Program’s academic curriculum is designed to meet the current Pennsylvania Academic Standards in the following areas:

• Reading
• Writing
• Speaking
• Arts and Humanities
• Mathematics
• Environment and Ecology
• Science and Technology
• Geography
• Government
• Health, Safety, and Physical Education
• Family and Consumer Science
• Personal Development